Not since the Mr Hare brand disappeared have I seen such elegant loafers. These Made in England loafers were a welcome discovery at the recent Pitti Uomo in Florence. Delicate and well made, they are by Baudoin & Lange, a new shoe brand on me.
Left & Below - Lusitanias Dark Brown Loafers - £305 - www.baudoinandlange.com
Baudoin & Lange was founded in 2016 by Allan Baudoin and Bo van Langeveld. Allan Baudoin, a computer scientist and Apple alumni turned self-trained bespoke shoe maker, designed and handcrafted the first ‘Sagan’ - their classic loafer - in 2014. After hundreds of prototypes and two years of development later, the brand was born.
When he and Bo van Langeveld, an ex-racing driver turned financier who was tired of suffering in his formal office shoes, met - they together developed the idea of a modern shoe brand that would combine the best of both worlds: comfort and style.
TheChicGeek says, "These are those delicate type of loafers that look almost like the male equivalent of a ballet pump - and just as comfortable. With tailoring starting to return, we should see a return to more formal shoes. These could be good for those who have spent their life in trainers. They are also a reasonable price for made in England."
Ryan Haynes, Menswear Luxury Buyer, Coggles
“‘All about a clean and simple aesthetic with a slight element of layering. Stick to fresh, primary colours and you can’t go wrong. A wardrobe staple in a classic denim wash which is very versatile.”
Left - Acne Studios - North Slim Jeans Mid Blue - £210
“Really current and cool brand. Sweatshirts are great for layering at this time of year and colour blocking is key.”
Left - Ami - Sweatshirt - £175
“Everyone needs a floral shirt in their wardrobe. Bold, but can be worn both smartly with a blazer or casually for a festival.’
Below -McQ Alexander McQueen - Billy Foral Shirt – £250
“A tan, suede jacket is essential in every man’s wardrobe. Fitting in with the western influence, it is on trend but also timeless in itself.”
Left - Officine Générale - Suede Liam Jacket - £870
“Classics, but the marble sole adds an contemporary and unique twist.”
Below - Axel Arigato - Clean 90 Sneaker - £160
All the pieces are SS18 and exclusive to the newly launched flagship store; Coggles, 52 London Road, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK9 7EF
Coach introduces a new fragrance for men. It is said to have a New York attitude and an American authenticity. Coach For Men starts with an energetic top note of crisp and effervescent green Nashi pear. A spicy burst of cardamom adds warmth, complexity and a subtle touch of sweetness. The scent ends with a textured base of vetiver—earthy, woody and green—layered with hints of suede and ambergris.
Left - One of the best bottles I've seen this year Coach For Men
TheChicGeek says, “In the battle for mainstream luxury - which is where all the money is BTW - Coach have a real energy right now. They feel like they are leading, rather than following, and have, finally, made Coach a recognised and desired brand in the UK and Europe.
This is their first men’s fragrance under their new license deal - they were previously with Esteé Lauder.
I really like the packaging: the ombré flacon and embossed logo with the name on the a leather tag is strong yet subtle branding. Even the textured calf-skin-like finish on the box is a nice touch.
The juice is commercial, but, that’s expected. The best bit is the dry down which soft and warm and without anything jarring or dominating.
The face is James Franco. I thought they would have chosen somebody a bit younger. Coach has been pushing a more collegiate, youthful feel and James Franco, pushing 40, is a bit done and has been used by other brands before. I personally think of Chloe Moretz and Brooklyn Beckham as Coach’s target image now: young and cool. But, this fragrance certainly works on its own."
Right - Too old for the new Coach? The Coach For Men face James Franco.
Coach For Men - Out 12th September 2017 40ml - 100ml - £29 - £62
A cross between a jacket and a shirt, the shacket is that useful menswear transition piece for when you need something more than a sweater, but not a fully blown coat.
A ChicGeek must-have piece of the season, this suede shacket, in a rich blue, has just arrived at New Look. At under £90 and in real suede this is something of a bargain and a sophisticated addition to any man's wardrobe.
TheChicGeek says, "Team it with a roll-neck for a cold day or leave open as a luxury overshirt".
Left & Below New Look - Navy Suede Shacket - £89.99 See TheChicGeek wearing it here
If you know where to look Clarks make some great shoes. There comes a time in any fashionisto's life where you want not only great design, but also comfort.
This Trigenic Flex style, developed from the Clarks' archive , has a silhouette that meticulously follows the shape of the foot.
The pioneering fusion of footwear engineering technologies and classic moccasin construction features a three part decoupled Vibram sole unit offering superior flexibility while the upper is designed in black nubuck with a knitted heel tab. An Ortholite footbed provides cushion comfort and moisture management.
TheChicGeek says "The moccasin style is a very strong men's footwear shape for #SS16, so get in early with these knowing you can walk in style for miles in comfort. These will look great with jeans".
Left & Below - Clarks Originals - Trigenic FlexBlack Nubuck Trainers - £100
One of the best and most directional collections of the season, Loewe’s menswear is overseen by the inventive eye of Irish designer J.W. Anderson.
This, his second menswear collection for Loewe, sees a creative rebrand of this traditional Spanish luxury goods company while respecting and using its expertise in leather goods.
This suede coat is one of the menswear highlights of the AW15 collection. Featuring bold red piped details on generous pockets it continues the exaggerated and retro details many menswear designers are pushing this season. At nearly £5,000 it is a major investment, but oh, what a beauty!
Left & Below - Loewe - Contrast Trim Suede Trench Coat - £4990
Available at Selfridges